Drum having displaceable textile web partition means

ABSTRACT

A drum for washing and drycleaning machines has a circumferential wall surrounding its axis of rotation, and a pair of axially spaced end walls one of which is provided with a central access opening. At least one partition in form of a strip of fabric, netting or the like is loosely suspended in the drum, having a length greater than the diameter of the drum and having its opposite end portions secured to the drum at traversely spaced locations at opposite sides of the axis of rotation. Additional similar partition webs may be provided each having an end portion secured to the inner side of the circumferential drum wall and another end portion secured to the first-mentioned partition web.

limited States Patent [191 iesinger et al.

[ June 12, 1973 1 DRUM HAVING DISPLACEABLE TEXTILE WEB PARTITION MEANS [73] Assignee: Seco Maschinenbau GmbH & Co;

KG., Rottenburg/Neckar, Germany [22] Filed: Nov.23, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 201,478

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data -Nov. 28, 1970 Germany P 20 58 704.6

[52] U.S. Cl. 68/145, 29/234 [51] Int. Cl. D061 37/08; 823p 19/04 [58] Field of Search 68/21, 96, 143, 145;

[56] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,399,451 12/1921 Troxel 68/143 795,978 8/1905 Hoover 68/145 2,651,190 9/1953 Horvath 68/21 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,207,328 12/1965 Germany 68/143 Primary Examiner-Wayne A. Morse, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Philip R. Coe Attorney-Michael S. Striker [5 7] ABSTRACT A drum for washing and drycleaning machines has a circumferential wall surrounding its axis of rotation, and a pair of axially spaced end walls one of which is provided with a central access opening. At least one partition in form of a strip of fabric, netting or the like is loosely suspended in the drum, having a length greater than the diameter of the drum and having its opposite end portions secured to the drum at traversely spaced locations at opposite sides of the axis of rotation. Additional similar partition webs may be provided each having an end portion secured to the inner side of the circumferential drum wall and another end portion secured to the first-mentioned partition web.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures DRUM HAVING DISPLACEABLE TEXTILE WEB PARTITION MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a drum, and more particularly to a drum for use in washing and drycleaning machines and the like.

Machines of the type mentioned above, that is washing machines, drycleaning machines and other apparatus of analogous type, utilize rotary drums which are mounted for rotation about an axis surrounded by their peripheral or circumferential wall and whose axially spaced endwalls extend normal to their axis of rotation. Such drums are provided in one endwall with a centrally located access opening through which material may be introduced into the drum and subsequently be removed therefrom. It is already known to provide drums of this type with interior partitions which are rigid and which subdivide the drum interior into two or more individual chambers which are evenly distributed over its circumference. This means that different charges (that is different items or combinations of materials) can be introduced into and treated in the various different chambers. The difficulty with these priorart constructions resides in the fact that the arrangement of the divider or partition walls must necessarily be such that they also subdivide the access opening, so that each of the individual chambers created by the provision of the partition walls is accessible only via a section of the access opening, rather via the entire access opening. This reduction in the available crosssection of the opening through which the respective chambers can be reached, is highly disadvantageous in many respects, particularly if bulky items are to be introduced or removed, for instance pillows, heavy coats or the like.

An additional problem attendent upon the known constructions with rigid partition walls resides in the increasing popularity of knitted fabrics and garments, particularly knits of the tubular type (e.g. sheath dresses and the like). Such knitted goods must be processed (washed, drycleaned, etc.) particularly gently and carefully in order to prevent them from becoming stretched out of shape. If knitted materials of this type, especially tubular knits, are introduced together into a drum, that is if several of them are introduced, then rotation of the drum causes them to become twisted together with a resulting difficulty not only of later separation but also with the danger of stretching them out of shape. If, on the other hand, they are introduced into the known drums which is subdivided into individual compartments by rigid partition walls, then the crosssection of the axis opening which is available for axis to each of the individual compartments is usually insufficient to introduce the articles into the respective compartments, or at least it makes it difficult to do so, just asit makes it difficult to subsequently remove them again. In addition, an inadequate cleaning effect is achieved for knitted and other goods in the individual compartments if the same are surrounded and defined by rigid partition walls, because the freedom of movement of the articles in the individual compartments or chambers is strictly limited by the rigidity of the surrounding partition walls.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, consequently, a general object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

More particularly it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved drum which is not possessed of these disadvantages.

An additional object of the invention is to provide such an improved drum for use particularly in washing and drycleaning machines, in which even long fabric webs or the like, knitted tubular fabrics and other objects, can be processed by washing, drycleaning or the like, without any danger that they might become entwined with one another and might becom stretched or might have to undergo the other disadvantages outlined above with respect to the prior art.

With this objects in view, and others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of the invention resides in the provision of a drum, particularly for washing and drycleaning machines, which briefly stated comprises a circumferential wall and a pair of axially spaced endwalls, the former surrounding and the latter extending transversely to an axis of rotation of the drum. A central access opening is provided in one of the endwalls and displaceable partition means is provided in the drum, partitioning the interior thereof in a plurality of compartments each of which is accessible via the entire cross-sectional area of the access opening.

The partition means may be in form of a flexible and- /or elastic textile web, for instance a net-type fabric, and may have a length greater than the diameter of the drum or that its opposite ends be connected to the interior of the circumferential drum wall at locations which are diametrally opposite one another, or which are spaced from one another circumferentially by less than 180 of arc.

Utilizing a web of this type, which hangs loosely in the interior of the drum and is flexible, and which may also be elastically yieldable, has the advantage that during loading and unloading of the compartments in which it divides the interior of the drum, its own weight, the weight of the material resting upon it or light manual pressure by a user displaces the web out of the cross-sectional area of the access opening, down wardly below the same, so that the full cross-sectional opening of the axis opening is available for access to the compartment which is to be loaded or unloaded.

The invention represents a rather drastic departure from the approaches heretofore suggested in the art. Consequently there were originally doubts as to whether the desired effect could be properly achieved by utilizing a web-type partition. However, we have found that by suitably selecting the length of the web or webs and the material thereof, it is possible to provide a drum according to the present invention in which the desired effect is fully achieved. In addition -we have found that a further advantage of the present invention resides in the fact that the freedom of movement of the material accommodated in the respective compartments bounded by the movable partition webs is so good that excellent treatment (washing or drycleaning) is achieved, contrary to what is known in the art where the movement of the material was so restricted that the desired quality of washing or drycleaning could not be achieved.

As pointed out above, it is possible not only to locate the ends of a single webtype partition so that they are secured to the inner side of the circumferential drum wall at diametrally opposite locations, but instead to secure them at locations which are circumferentially spaced by less than 180 of are. In addition it is of course not necessary to utilize only a single web-type partition; rather, one such partition can be provided and connected with the circumferential drum wall in the manner outlined above, and then another similar partition can be provided one end of which is connected with the circumferential drum wall and the other end of which is connected with the firstmentioned web-type partition. Evidently, additional web-type partitions can also be provided and the interior of the drum can thus be subdivided into a desired number of individual compartments.

The webs themselves can be partially stiffened to the desired extent, and this can be achieved by providing them with transverse reinforcing or stiffening webs for instance of synthetic plastic material, in order to protect them against torsion and to stabilize them across their width. This prevents material from moving during rotation of the drum between the drum wall and the web-type partition or partitions from one chamber or compartment into an adjacent chamber or compartment and to become admixed and twisted with the material in this adjacent chamber or compartment.

However, it should be pointed out that the partition can also be of bag-shaped type, connected not only to the circumferential wall of the drum but also to one or both endwalls thereof. In this case it is advantageous to provide an arcuate blanket which surrounds half the periphery of the access opening and is connected with its opposite endportions pivotably to the endwall provided with the access opening at opposite sides of the latter. The partition is then connected to this bracket and after one compartment of the drum is filled or emptied the drum is rotated through 180 or substantially through this distance and the bracket also is pivotted through l80 in order to provide access to the second compartment over the entire cross-sectional area of the access opening.

It is advantageous that all partition webs or the like be made removable so that they can be readily withdrawn for inspection, repair and/or replacement.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a very diagrammatic illustration, in perspective, of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a very diagrammatic vertical axial section through a drum according to an additional embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of FIG. 4, as seen from the right-hand side thereof looking towards the left.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing the drawing in detail it is first pointed out that in all figures the drum is shown only diagrammatically and can of course be of any costruction well known in the art. In all figures, also, the drum, which is the drum of a washing or dryeleaning machine, is identified with reference numeral 10 and its centrally located access opening is identified with reference numeral 11. The drum has a circumferential wall 10b and two axial endwalls 10a and 100 of which the former is provided with the access opening 11 (compare FIGS. 1 and 4). The drum is rotatable about the axis A (see FIG. 4) which is usually horizontal or substantially horizontal.

With this in mind, and referring now specifically to FIG. 1, it will be seen that in this embodiment there is mounted within the area of the drum 10 a single flexible web-type partition 12. In this embodiment it is assumed that the partition 12 is in form of a net-type fabric (see 26a in FIG. 5) whose length in axial direction of the drum 10 corresponds to that of the drum, and whose width in transverse direction of the drum is greater than the diameter of the latter. In axial direction of the drum the partition 12 may be reinforced by means of synthetic plastic reinforcing ribs or the like, as will be discussed with reference to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.

The partition 12 is shown in two positions in FIG. 1, one being illustrated in dot-dash lines and identified with reference numeral 12 and the other being shown in dashed lines and identified with reference numeral 12'. The transverse ends of the partition are connected removably (to be discussed with respect to FIG. 2) at diametrally opposite locations of the inner side of the circumferential drum wall 10 along lines extending over the entire axial length of the drum 10. Drums of this type are usually provided with agitating ribs provided on the interior of the circumferential drum wall, and the connections along the lines 13 and 14 can be provided on these ribs if desired.

Because the dimension of the partition in transverse direction of the drum 10 is greater than the diameter of the latter, the partition 12 will hang down under its own wieght beneath the access opening 11 and may even contact the lowest point of the drum periphery. Thus, the entire cross-sectional area of the opening 11 is available for access to that compartment which is located above the hanging web 12. On the other hand, a simple turning of the drum 10 through substantially l in either direction about the axis A will cause the web to move to the position 12' which of course will then be located downwardly in the same position illustrated in FIG. I and identified with reference numeral 12. material. will then result in the other compartment to being fully accessible over the entire cross-sectional area of the access opening 11, for charging or removal of materia.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2 we have illustrated the possibility of using a somewhat stiffer partition web 15, again for instance of a net-type fabric which may be elastically yieldable and may for instance be wholly or in part composed of natural or synthetic rubber. The two ends in transverse direction are connected at 16 and 17 to the inner side of the circumferential drum wall, but here the circumferential spacing between the locations 116 and 17 is smaller than 180 of art, that is they are not located diametrally opposite one another. The connection may be releasable, as already indicated earlier, for instance by providing the two ends of the partition web with rods-or bars suitably secured to them and extending in axial direction of the drum, and providing the inner surface of the circumferential drum wall with suitable clamps 17a into which the rods or bars can be inserted whereupon the clamps 17a are closed. Such clamps might be spring-loaded to normally assume a closed position, and of course other connecting means such as screws, or the like can be utilized. In axial direction of the drum the web 15 is reinforced by the diagrammatically illustrated reinforcing ribs 15a which may be of synthetic plastic material or the like. In any case, after the upper chamber in FIG. 2 has been charged or emptied, the drum can be turned through substantially 180 and the other chamber (illustrated in FIG. 2 as the lower one) can then be charged or emptied. Because the web 15 is elastically yieldable in this illustrated embodiment it is seen that it can be elastically deflected to the position illustrated at 15 whereupon again the entire cross-sectional area of the access opening 11 is available for access to the other chamber, despite the fact that the two chambers are normally of different size as seen in FIG. 2.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3 we have illustrated that the drum 10 may be provided with a first web 18 corresponding for instance to the web 12 in FIG. 1. The opposite ends are located and connected at diametrically opposite locations 19 and 20 to the inner circumferen ti'al inner side of the circumferential drum wall 10b. In addition this embodiment utilizes two further flexible partition webs 21 and 22. One end 23 of the web 21 and one end 24 of the web 22 are each secured to the inner side of the circumferential drum wall, whereas the other ends are connected at 25 to the web 18. Thus, the interior of the drum is divided into four individual compartments and it is readilyunderstandable that because of the slackness of the webs 18, 21 and 22 access can be had to each of these compartments over the entire cross-sectional area of the opening 11, if and when desired.

The embodiment in FIGS. 4 and 5, finally, is somewhat different from those of FIGS. 1-3. Here the drum I0 is provided with a bag-like partition web 26 which is connected with the inner circumferential wall of the drum in the same manner as for instance illustrated in FIGS. I or 2. In addition, however, the partition web 26 is further connected with the endwall 10c of the drum 110 along a diameter line 27. Further, the partition web 26 is connected to the front endwall 10a provided with the opening 11 along an additional diameter line 27a up to the periphery of the opening 11.

There is further provided a semi-circular bracket 28 whose opposite ends are connected by means of suitable hinges 29 at opposite lateral sides of the opening I1 to the wall 10a, so that the bracket can be piv'otted from a position in which it surrounds the lower half of the opening 11 to a position in which it surrounds the upper half of the opening ll as illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 5. This position is designated with refer ence numeral 200 in FIG. 5. The web 26 is connected along and with the bracket 28 and when the drum is turned throughsubstantially 180 about the axis A the web 26 will assume the broken-line position 26' shown in FIG. 4 whereas the bracket will pivot in the direction of the arrow 30 in FIG. 4 to assume the position 28 shown in FIG. 5.

In this embodiment a complete separation of the compartments obtained in the drum is achieved, but

each compartment is again accessible via the entire cross-sectional area of the opening 11.

The present invention thus fully achieves its desired purposes and avoids the disadvantages outlined with respect to the prior art.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a drum which is particularly suitable for washing or drycleaning machines, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting the features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and-desired to be protected by letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

We claim: 7

l. A drum, particularly for washing and drycleaning machines, comprising a circumferential wall and a pair of axially spaced endwalls, the former surrounding and the latter extending transversely to an axis of rotation of said drum; a central access opening in one of said endwalls; and displaceable textile web partition means in pair drum partitioning the interior thereof into a plurality of compartments each accessible via the entire cross-sectional area of said access opening.

2. A drum as defined in claim 1, said partition means being elastically yieldable and flexible.

3. A drum as defined in claim 1, wherein said textile web partition means is a net fabric.

4. A drum as defined in claim 1, said textile web partition means having a length greater than the diameter of said drum, and spaced end portions each secured to the inner side of said circumferential wall at diametrally opposite locations of said drum.

5. A drum as defined in claim 1, said partition means having a length greater than the diameter of said drum, and spaced end portions secured to the inner side of said circumferential wall at locations which are angularly spaced from one another by less than of are.

6. A drum as defined in claim 1, said partition means including a first web having a length greater than the diameter of said drum and two end portions secured to the inner side of said circumferential wall at transversely spaced locations, and two second webs each having one endportion secured to said circumferential wall and an other endportion secured to said first web.

7. A drum as defined in claim 1, said partition means being bag-shaped and secured to said one endwall along a portion of the periphery of said access opening.

8. A drum as defined in claim 7; further comprising a bracket straddling said opening and having spaced 'terminal portions located and pivotally mounted at opmeans.

10. A drum as defined in claim 1; further comprising securing means releasably securing said partition means to said circumferential wall. 

1. A drum, particularly for washing and drycleaning machines, comprising a circumferential wall and a pair of axially spaced endwalls, the former surrounding and the latter extending transversely to an axis of rotation of said drum; a central access opening in one of said endwalls; and displaceable textile web partition means in pair drum partitioning the interior thereof into a plurality of compartments each accessible via the entire cross-sectional area of said access opening.
 2. A drum as defined in claim 1, said partition means being elastically yieldable and flexible.
 3. A drum as defined in claim 1, wherein said textile web partition means is a net fabric.
 4. A drum as defined in claim 1, said textile web partition means having a length greater than the diameter of said drum, and spaced end portions each secured to the inner side of said circumferential wall at diametrally opposite locations of said drum.
 5. A drum as defined in claim 1, said partition means having a length greater than the diameter of said drum, and spaced end portions secured to the inner side of said circumferential wall at locations which are angularly spaced from one another by less than 180* of arc.
 6. A drum as defined in claim 1, said partition means including a first web having a length greater than the diameter of said drum and two end portions secured to the inner side of said circumferential wall at transversely spaced locations, and two second webs each having one endportion secured to said circumferential wall and an other endportion secured to said first web.
 7. A drum as defined in claim 1, said partition means being bag-shaped and secured to said one endwall along a portion of the periphery of said access opening.
 8. A drum as defined in claim 7; further comprising a bracket straddling said opening and having spaced terminal portions located and pivotally mounted at opposite lateral sides of said opening, said bracket extending along a portion of the periphery of said opening and said partition means being secured to said bracket.
 9. A drum as defined in claim 1; further comprising transverse reinforcing ribs provided on said partition means.
 10. A drum as defined in claim 1; further comprising securing means releasably securing said partition means to said circumferential wall. 